New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-25
THE "GREEY GOODS0 GAME.

InspecOr Byrnes has been kept busy OF late
orrcstinp n class of swindlcrs who have been
so stupid as to make Ncw-York their head
quarters, known as green goods men. y
large and valuable class of business Is done
by these knavcs who seem to be close and ac-
curatc students of human nature They under
stand that there exists in every community a
certain considerable proportion Of men who
would chccrfuly be dishonest if they were
reasonably sure of not being found out. These
are persons Of intense cupidity, and many Of
them arc inflicted also with a bump of crcduty
as big as door-kuob. 1t is upon these Great
urcs that the green goods swindIcrs operate,
and they find them particularly easy fish to
catch. They bite with hungry avidity from
which the humor-loving Swindlcr draws large
fund Of amusement as well as profit.
The various plans by which swindlcrs pursue
their trade no matter 10 what particular line
Of business their wits arc directed. place our
weak human nature in a pitiablc light. Their
methods are always Suhl.matcd and refined
simplicity. pto the point where the swindlc
has been accomplished and the booty is cap
turcd. everything moves along easily and with
MONDAY lucdity. II is only when the victim
Of the plot wakes up to the fact that the adagc,
@ fool and his money are soon paItcd.' has
been realized in his own experience, that the
seemingly plain and ever road along which he
has been travelling begins to look misty and
crooked. From the rogue to the fool WAS a
straight line. but from the fool back TO the
rogue all is obScurity and cntangcmcnt.
This green goods" game, for instance. is
exceedingly neat and atic>S. The SWin!lcr
secures 4 list Of the addresses If country people
out West and down south to whom he sends
a circular suggesting in terms sufficiently am
biguous to serve rs protection against that
stumhing-blocll in the path 81 ju>ticc-thn
rules Of cyidcncc-but still clear enough for the
purposes Of crime. that he has some counterfeit
grccnbacIlS Of small denominations which he
will sell at the rate Of 81 900 worth for SO,
and which. he assures his prospective dupc.
cannot be detected from good money. To
such persons n niLbc at this lat he sends
written Particulars inclosinc ihc half 81 a bona
fidc note, which he has cut in two for the
purpose His correspondent examines the bill
and secs great fortune hanging. al ripe
and luscious. before him. IL sends his money
for the countcrfcis and receives in reply, IT,
indeed. hc receives anything a package II
NdNl' paper ~ Pllhl'h 't'lu H'dli"- 0'Ii'
such cNaspcrating sentiment as. " Wen, II all
suckers. you are the worst" 4 few 81 the
swindcrs. gifted with 4 sense ~ humor add
10 this cruel message some apt Biblical rcproof
or cXhortation.
The utter hopclc,Snc,s 81 the fool-killcrs
task Is strilnely shown in the results II In
spcctor Bvrnc>'s work. He has arrested a
score II these rascal, who seem to have been
enjoying most prosperous season. The
entries in a book II rocotd kept 10y one 81 them
show that hc ha, done business If over
$4,000 since last April 1t would appear
ridiculous that any one could be- 50 utterly dan
as 10 be deceived by fraud 50 transparent
were not the records 81 these arrests laden
heavily with proof, Of very extensive plumber.
There seem, t. be NO limit to the ayaIicc and
gullibity II which mankind Is capable, and
certainly none 10 the criminal advantage " hich
can be taken Of these dcmorIlizing attributes.
Mr. Byrncs has done good work in fcrrctng out
the rogucS. and it Is To- be- hoped that the courts
will second him by securing to them swift
and severe punishment.